New York Vertical [Hardcover]

Horst Hamann (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2000

Now in an easy-to-carry format, this award-winning pictorial tribute to the world's most vertical city offers a unique introduction to New York's spectacular architecture. Using a vintage panoramic camera tilted ninety degrees. Hamann spent nearly five years painstakingly setting up shot after shot, often finding himself balancing precariously out a window ledge, patiently waiting for the perfect lighting conditions. His stark black and white compositions lend these photographs a dramatic, often dreamlike quality, and offer unique reinterpretations of the of the world's most recognizable cityscapes. The result is an original and astonishing array of images -- accompanied by quotations from some of the city's most ardent and well-known fans-that capture New York's towering presence in a way no other photographer ever has.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Some people may mistakenly overlook this book because of the novelty of its central idea--upending a panoramic camera to shoot New York City vertically. But veteran photographer Horst Hamann's pictures have nothing gimmicky about them; in fact, like Berenice Abbott's, they seem destined for New York City photo immortality. The pictures are beautifully controlled--in vision, in camera technique, and in printing. What's more, Hamann bends the city to his vision of light, air, and geometry. A shot of the Statue of Liberty's right arm, holding the lamp aloft, is a masterwork of composition and care. It's as if Hamann somehow arranged for the sea below to darken in precisely the same gradations as the Lady's stately arm. Compare it to a dizzying picture of one of the Chrysler Building's shiny eagle heads, or a serene moment among the hosta lilies in Trinity Church cemetery for a grasp of Hamann's range.

Each photograph is paired with a quotation on the opposite page, such as Walt Whitman's "The beautiful city, the city of hurried and sparkling waters!" or former mayor James J. Walker's quip, "I'd rather be a lamppost in New York than Mayor of Chicago." The back of the book contains information on the places in the photographs. On a shelf of New York books, this one might take its place next to Paul Goldberger's classic, The City Observed, as a fresh example of how New York's stone, steel, and glass architectural icons are reinvented with each new visionary. --Peggy Moorman --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Review

A standout. -- New York Post

Some of the most compelling photographs of the city. -- New York Daily News

The perfect book for anyone who has ever stood spellbound on a midtown street corner, beholding the majesty of Manhattan's towering spires. -- Forbes --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 168 pages
• Publisher: teNeues (October 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3823854739
• ISBN-13: 978-3823854739
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #302,650 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BREATH TAKING!, July 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: New York Vertical (Hardcover)

New York Vertical is to my knowledge the best book there is! I want to congratulate Horst Hamann, he did the impossible to photograph the New York we all love. The black and white photographs captured the beauty of the city, the format of the pictures is incredible! It's a masterpiece! BRAVO

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the great photography works., January 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: New York Vertical (Hardcover)

I received this book as a gift,and have since purchased 5 copies for friends and family. The author over the course of 5 years explores the city of New York using a unique panoramic format and ends up with really unbelievable perspectives of New York and wonderful prints for a book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New York Vertical Rules!, June 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: New York Vertical (Hardcover)

I fell in love with New York many years ago and visited for the first time last summer. The photographer's capture of the architecture is outstanding, the accompanying quotes well worth remembering. So, until I return the pages of New York Vertical will keep the memory fresh.

Thanks Horst.